Defense Industry of Ukraine working on a new towed gun

3 November, 2023 Barrel at the Kramatorsk Heavy Duty Machine Tool Building Plant.

2020. Ukraine. Photo credits: radiosvoboda.org

The defense industry of Ukraine is developing a new towed gun. This was stated by Serhii Baranov, Brigadier General and Head of the Main Missile and Artillery and Unmanned Systems Directorate of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. Moreover, Ukraine is also developing new types of artillery systems.

Along with this, the country continues to work within the framework of its missile program. "It (missile program of Ukraine - ed.) works. There are already prototypes, tests are being carried out.

I can't tell everything, but we are working," said Serhii Baranov. The Brigadier General also commented on the production of Ukrainian long-range weapons, due to which a target of 700 km was hit at the end of August 2023.

Serhii Baranov. Photo credits: Kyiv Not Kiev

"This is a completely new missile, and we will increase its capabilities in terms of range and accuracy.

I think that you will see the result," Baranov said. At the same time, he added that Ukraine is also developing new types of artillery installations. "Now we are working on trailed guns.

This is exactly what is related to artillery systems," the Brigadier General emphasized. Presumably, the new gun, according to the plans, should be developed in a 155mm-caliber so that it can be fired by shells supplied to Ukraine by the Allies.

M777 howitzer of the Ukrainian military. Autumn-Summer 2022.

Photo from open sources

Recall that the development of the 2S22 Bohdana artillery system with a caliber of 155 mm began in 2016 at the Kramatorsk Heavy Duty Machine Tool Building Plant. An important aspect of the development was the development of production from Ukrainian steel rifled barrels for these self-propelled guns on domestic equipment. However, in 2020, the PJSC Starokramatorsky Machine-Building Plant, located in Kramatorsk, mastered the production of barrels for 122 mm artillery systems such as the D-30 and 2S1 Gvozdika.

Barrel for towed and self-propelled artillery of 122-mm caliber from the Starokramator Machine-Building Plant.

Photo credits: National Industrial Portal

Production was mastered within the framework of providing the Armed Forces of Ukraine with new barrels for guns whose service life was approaching completion or, in general, exceeded the period of possible firing.